Hospital use of antipsychotic agents in 1989 and 1993: stable dosing with decreased length of stay.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated recent and current use of antipsychotics by psychiatric inpatients.

METHOD

Computer-based hospital pharmacy records identified prescriptions for antipsychotics in 1993. Medical records were reviewed to verify prescription and clinical data, and these were compared with similar data from 1989.

RESULTS

In 1993, antipsychotics were prescribed for 299 (42%) of 709 hospitalized patients. Treatment usually started within 24 hours of admissions averaging 18 days. High-potency agents were used 2.4 times more frequently than low-potency drugs; 13% received clozapine. The mean chlorpromazine-equivalent daily dose, corrected for as-needed supplements, was 305 mg; peak doses were 32% higher. Doses of the most potent agents (fluphenazine and haloperidol) were only 22%-33% above the overall mean. Rarely were two neuroleptics given simultaneously, but cotreatment with an anticonvulsant (84% of patients, 92% of whom received valproate), a potent benzodiazepine (81%), lithium (70%), one CNS depressant (84%), or more (45%) was common. Doses averaged 20% higher for men, 42% lower at age > 50 years versus 20-30 years, and 53% greater for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder versus other conditions. Comparison with 1989 admissions (N = 50) averaging 73 days indicated few differences in use of neuroleptics or benzodiazepines but less frequent use of anticonvulsants and lithium.

CONCLUSIONS

High-potency antipsychotic agents and clozapine were used most often in 1993; doses of high-potency agents were only slightly higher than doses of low-potency agents, but combinations with mood stabilizers were more common in 1993, when length of stay was one-fourth that in 1989.